Americans like witches, the IRS, and even hemorrhoids better than Congress

October 8, 2013 | Tom Jensen

Share:

Raleigh, N.C. – While Congress
remains divided amidst the government shutdown, Americans are united in their
disapproval of the legislating body. Of registered voters polled, 85%
disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Only 8% approve- Democrats,
Republicans and Independents are almost equally united in their distaste for
Congress, with only 7%, 10% and 8% approving respectively. Very conservative
voters differed slightly with a support of 15%.

Older voters disapprove of Congress at a higher rate than their younger
counterparts. At least 85% of registered voters ages 30+ are critical of the
legislature, compared to 70% of those between the ages of 18-29.

Americans currently have a higher opinion of witches (46/32), jury duty
(73/18) and hemorrhoids (53/31) than Congress. Republicans seem much more
accepting of Congress over hemorrhoids compared to other voters — 41% favored
Congress more than the diseases, as oppose to only 25% of Democrats and 27% of
Independents.

Even government institutions like the DMV and the IRS are seen as more favorable
than Congress currently, at 58/24 and 42/33 respectively. Almost twice as many
Republicans still support Congress over the IRS (48/25), while only 23% of
Democrats do (23/59).

Half of registered voters have a higher opinion of Congress than of Anthony
Weiner right now (50/23). In fact, public figures are some of the only people
that registered voters dislike more than the legislature. Americans thought
higher of Congress when asked about Vladimir Putin (49/28), Charles Manson
(56/18), Honey Boo Boo (42/33) and Miley Cyrus (36/31) – with ‘twerking’ also
four points below Congress at 37/33.

“Congress having an 8% approval rating tells us one thing about how unhappy
voters are,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But it’s
even more telling that voters have a lower opinion of it than annoyances like
the DMV and jury duty, health issues like hemorrhoids, and even witches.”

PPP surveyed 502 registered
voters between October 4-6, 2013. The margin of error for the overall survey is
+/- 4.4%. This poll was not authorized or paid for by any campaign or political
organization. PPP’s surveys are conducted through automated telephone
interviews.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the jobCongress is doing?Approve …………………………………………………. 8%Disapprove……………………………………………… 86%Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%

Q2 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Wall Street?Congress ……………………………………………….. 15%Wall Street ……………………………………………… 46%Not sure …………………………………………………. 39%

Q3 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or witches?Congress ……………………………………………….. 32%Witches………………………………………………….. 46%Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%

Q4 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or hemorroids?Congress ……………………………………………….. 31%Hemorrhoids …………………………………………… 53%Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%

Q5 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Vladimir Putin?Congress ……………………………………………….. 49%Vladimir Putin………………………………………….. 28%Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%

Q6 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or jury duty?Congress ……………………………………………….. 18%Jury duty ………………………………………………… 73%Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%

Q7 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Anthony Weiner?Congress ……………………………………………….. 50%Anthony Weiner ………………………………………. 23%Not sure …………………………………………………. 27%

Q8 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Miley Cyrus?Congress ……………………………………………….. 46%Miley Cyrus …………………………………………….. 31%Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%

Q9 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or dog poop?Congress ……………………………………………….. 40%Dog poop ……………………………………………….. 47%Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%

Q10 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or toenail fungus?Congress ……………………………………………….. 41%Toenail fungus…………………………………………. 44%Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q11 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or cockroaches?Congress ……………………………………………….. 42%Cockroaches…………………………………………… 44%Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%

Q12 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or the IRS?Congress ……………………………………………….. 33%The IRS …………………………………………………. 42%Not sure …………………………………………………. 24%

Q13 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or the Ebola virus?Congress ……………………………………………….. 47%Ebola …………………………………………………….. 28%Not sure …………………………………………………. 25%

Q14 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or your mother-in-law?Congress ……………………………………………….. 20%Mother-in-law………………………………………….. 64%Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%

Q15 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Charles Manson?Congress ……………………………………………….. 56%Charles Manson………………………………………. 18%Not sure …………………………………………………. 26%

Q16 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or the DMV?Congress ……………………………………………….. 24%The DMV………………………………………………… 58%Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%

Q17 What do you have a higher opinion of:Congress or Lindsey Lohan?Congress ……………………………………………….. 40%Lindsey Lohan ………………………………………… 36%Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%

Q28 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.Woman ………………………………………………….. 47%Man……………………………………………………….. 53%

Q29 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,press 2. If you are an independent or identifywith another party, press 3.Democrat ……………………………………………….. 37%Republican……………………………………………… 31%Independent/Other…………………………………… 31%

Q31 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you areolder than 65, press 4.18 to 29………………………………………………….. 15%30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%46 to 65………………………………………………….. 43%Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%